Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas...

from our hearts and home, to yours!

Daryle & Katie

Our Eve of Christmas Eve Give-Away!

On this, the eve of Christmas Eve...

in the spirit of giving we wish to

have one more give-away!

Gottfried (Daryle's personal favorite)

whose name means: "God's peace"

will be going to live with the individual

whose name we have 

"picked out of the hat"

from all of the posts entered in

"The Reason for the Season"

 over the past four weeks of Advent.

Gottfried will be living with Rafael and his Mom, 

from My Tiny Studio... in California!

We couldn't be happier...  Daryle & Katie

Congratulations to Our 4th Sunday in Advent Winners!

"Otto" will be going to live with

Diane MacNaughtan!

You have renewed our spirits

with your touching post Diane!

Oneta Carter will be receiving

four of Katie's handmade cards.

Oneta... thank you for sharing your

journey, with all of us!

Warmest Wishes... Daryle & Katie

4th Week in Advent Give-Away!

As we approach Christmas...

Katie and I would like to share in the spirit of giving 

by giving away this fourth and final "Souls of Joy"

art doll AND one set of four handmade cards

This coming Wednesday "Otto" 

whose name means: "wealthy"

will find a new home... 

as will a packet of four handmade cards!

Don't you just love those "serious" brows!

Wednesday evening, Dec. 22nd...

Katie and I will choose the TWO posts that we feel 

best express the "Reason for the Season!"

Keep those posts coming...

Warmest Wishes! Daryle & Katie

Congrats... to our 3rd Week in Advent Winners!

Julie, who lives and teaches in Chiang Rai Thailand

will be giving "Rafael" a new home this Christmas!

Thank you Julie... 

for sharing such an insightful reminder

of "the reason" with us!

Jody, from Tumbleweed Trails

will receive four of Katie's handmade cards!

Jody... your post inspires and affirms.

Next Wednesday evening, December 22nd

we will choose the fourth and final recipients

of a "Souls of Joy" doll and four handmade cards. 

Share with us: "The Reason for the Season!"

Daryle & Katie 

Third Week in Advent -Give-Away!

In the spirit of this Christmas Season...

Katie and I would like to share the joy...

by giving away each week one of the "Souls of Joy" 

art dolls and one set of four handmade cards.

This coming Wednesday, Dec. 15th  

"Rafael... whom God has healed” will find a new home...  

as will a packet of four handmade cards!

Here's how it works: each Wednesday 

evening (12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22) 

Katie and I will choose the TWO posts  that we feel 

best express the "Reason for the Season!"

Each week, one post will be selected to receive 

a "Soul of Joy" doll, and one post will be selected  

to receive a set of four handmade cards.

We invite you to post... inspire, and be inspired!

Yuletide Blessings... Daryle & Katie

Congratulations... our Second Week in Advent Winners!

Once again... we are just overwhelmed by 

the heart-warming responses to 

"The Reason for the Season!"

Sascha will make his new home with

Annette, from Confounded Concoctions.

Four of Katie's handmade cards

will find their way to the home of Brenda Escoto

who lives in Folsom, CA.

Brenda was unable to post her comment on our blog,

but sent it via e-mail... it touched our hearts deeply!

Please keep those posts coming... as a new

"Souls of Joy" doll and four more cards

will be finding their way to new homes 

next Wednesday evening, December 15th.

Share with us: "The Reason for the Season!"

Daryle & Katie

Second Week in Advent Give-Away!

During this wondrous Christmas Season... Katie and I

would like to share in the spirit of giving by

giving away each week... one of the "Souls of Joy"

 art dolls AND one set of four handmade cards.

This Wednesday, Dec. 8th  

"Sascha... defender of mankind" 

will find a new home... 

as will a packet of four handmade cards!

Here is how it works: 

During these fours weeks in Advent

 between now and Christmas 

on Wednesday evening (12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22) 

Katie and I will choose the TWO posts

 that we feel best express the "Reason for the Season!"

Each week, one post will be selected to receive 

a "Soul of Joy" doll, and one post will be selected  

to receive a set of four handmade cards.

Share the joy and post a note that inspires us all!

Yuletide Blessings... Daryle & Katie

Congratulations... our First Week in Advent Winners!

We were just overwhelmed by the heartfelt posts

that have been shared this first week!

It was so difficult to choose just two...

Huppert will be on his way tomorrow 

to his new home with Teresa Swanson.

Four of Katie's lovely handmade cards

will be sent out this week to Anita, 

from Primitive Dolls and Sweet Nothings.

Please keep those posts coming... as a new

"Souls of Joy" doll and four more cards

will be finding their way to new homes 

next Wednesday evening, December 8th.

Share with us: "The Reason for the Season!"

Daryle & Katie

Jesus IS the Reason for the Season... we are excited about our Weekly Give-Away!

We are so blessed... as we enter this Advent Season!

Our way of sharing that JOY is to give away each week, 

over the next four weeks... one of the "Souls of Joy" art 

dolls that I made this past summer... AND one set of four

 handmade cards that Katie has designed.

Here's how it will work: During each of the four weeks 

in Advent, between now and Christmas on Wednesday

 evening (12/1, 12/8, 12/15, 12/22) Katie and I will 

choose the TWO posts that we feel best express 

the "Reason for the Season!"

Each week, one post will be selected to receive a 

"Soul of Joy" doll, and one post will be selected  

to receive a set of four handmade cards.**

(**the cards will be hand selected by Katie, this photo

 only represents the cards that may be selected) 

This coming Wednesday evening, December 1st"...

"Huppert" will find a new home! 

As will a selection of four cards.**

Have fun... and drop us a note, that inspires us all 

and touches at the very heart of Christmas!

Our Warmest Wishes... Daryle and Katie

P.S. Huppert's name means: "bright spirit"... 

(not "light" spirit) Tsk! Tsk!

Thanksgiving Blessings!

From our home and hearts... 

to yours!

Daryle and Katie

le gardien de memoire... that is to say: "The Memory Keeper"

I will cover the styrofoam ball with paper clay... I'm not planning on inserting eyes, but rather, painting them on the face.  The temporary "halo" is from a dismantled solar walkway light!  Tsk! Tsk!

The arms of my "keeper" are once again, wooden craft finials (for which I have this weird affinity it seems).  I base-coated the old black lacquered finish with Krylon outdoor/indoor primer... it works like a dream!  The game plan is to cover the entire box-body with vintage and scrap-booking papers.  I have three metal book plates (one for each drawer) that I will eventually add and then insert labels in.

Ahhh... the wings?  I'm trusting that at just the right moment; inspiration will come knocking at my door and I will know how to finish them (perhaps a bit of modeling paste to add some interesting texture?)  The wings are cut from 1/8 inch craft plywood and I have attached them to the box-body with small metal hinges and screws... for a bit of whimsical movement! 

A New Art Doll: "The Memory Keeper"

I came across this 14 inch high three drawer black lacquered jewelry box at the Glassboro Goodwill Store... it was marked $7.00.  

I knew in a moment that those three drawers were destined to hold keepsakes–– guarded by the Memory Keeper.

I envision an art doll that will hold treasured keepsakes, from the past.  For me, the inspiration came in part from a children’s bereavement workshop that I attended six years ago.  The instructor, Virginia Frey, introduced us to the concept of creating a “memory box.”  

A simple box filled with small objects that carry special significance and meaning!  Over the next several weeks... I will post photos of this work in progress!   Blessings... Daryle  

A Journey Within A Journey!

This was a personal journey;

 acknowledging the past and embracing the future.

 The long journey home:

• a childhood memory; where family still resides.

• a “distant country”–– where we raised our children.

• a promised land, where eternity will unfold. 

The Long Journey Home...

There are three parts to this assemblage...

and correspondingly; three parts to the journey!

• there is the doll...

• there is the boat ("phaeton" on wheels)...

• there is the mast with the bluebird in tow...

My father-in-law would often remind me:

"The journey is the best part of a trip!"

 

He was absolutely right!

A Sneak Peek... The Journey's End!

What an adventure this journey has been...

working on "Phaeton #2"

I finished him this evening  and hope to post 

a few more pictures in the next day or two!

More about the journey... later!

Blessings... Daryle

"Phaeton #2"... Is the Whole Greater Than the Sum of the Parts?

All of the "parts" seem to be falling in place,

for "Phaeton #2"

His boat is finished...

I made a paper clay black crow 

sitting on a perch, to hang from the mast.

He still needs a coat of gesso and some paint

on his head and hands...

and then I will add a crackle finish.

His arms and wings need to be wired on,

a few vintage buttons and trims

and he will be ready for that "Long Journey Home!"

Understated Elegance, Whimsy and Charm... Katie's newest handmade cards!

Here are some of Katie's newest handmade cards...

each one a feast for the eyes and balm for the soul!

"Phaeton #2"... a Personality Emerges!

A personality is emerging, as I add a bit of paperclay here 

and brush a little wash of color on there. 

I love his "bookish" and "boyish" look!

(it must be the vintage eye glasses)

His little boat sits on a wooden cube

that I have stenciled in checkerboard.

The cube sits on wooden legs

that are dry brushed in sage green,

dark cream and deep burgundy.

His body needs to be fully stuffed, 

arms and hands need to be sculpted...  

and an anchor will hang somewhere!

Enjoy the journey with me!  Daryle

Ahhh... Four Days in Vermont!

Shelburne Farms... a perfect day, 

standing beneath the Coach Barn Cupola!

Fall Foliage... some of the sugar maples waited for us!

Snow on the Adirondacks... looking over Lake Champlain!

Our precious grandson... with boundless energy; 

who loves to turn anything that he can get his hands on!

(Yup! Even a vintage water hydrant in the old coach barn) 

Sufficient Phaeton #2... The Long Journey Home!

Well... it looks like we have a sailboat 

for "Phaeton (wagon) #2"...  Tsk, Tsk!

I'm ready to begin adding paperclay

to his 4 inch styrofoam base head.

I set his big blue eyes low on his face,

hoping to capture a child-like look.

(looks a bit like a mummy at this moment!)

Sail Away... we're off to Vermont for a 

four day weekend with our kids and grandson!

"Phaeton" #2... The Long Journey Home!

The journey continues... 

Using the two remaining spoke rimmed 

doll buggy wheels, a wood block,

and some wooden finials... 

"Phaeton" (wagon) #2 is in the works!

The styrofoam balls and vintage enamel funnels

will be incorporated into the new doll.

Winter Issue of Art Doll Quarterly!

"Sentinel of Winter" will be featured in

 the newest issue of Art Doll Quarterly, 

due to arrive at your favorite bookstore 

and magazine stand on November 1st.

You can imagine how excited I was

to hear from Stampington & Company

that "Sentinel" is the cover story

for this wonderful winter issue!

To order your copy from Stampington & Company

please use this link:

http://www.artdollquarterly.com/

Share the joy and be blessed...  Daryle

Our One Year Anniversary Give-Away...Two Winners!

"The Queen of Hearts" 

will be going to live with Vicky! 

On September 19th she posted:

"I love the depth of your work! 

How you plant the seed of an idea. 

As your creation evolves so does our imagination. 

Thank you for taking us along 

on your creative journeys. So Inspiring! -Vicky"

"Le Petit Acrobate... the little acrobat"

will be going to live with jenclair!

On September 9th she posted:

"What a wonderful opportunity! 

I'm definitely in...with my fingers crossed!

-jenclair"

Congratulations to both 

Vicky and jenclair!

And our heartfelt thanks 

to each one who posted a note 

as we celebrated 

our first year of blogging!

Vicky and jenclair... contact us 

at our e-mail address

to arrange for shipping!

Warmest Wishes & Congrats Again...

Daryle & Katie  

"Sufficient"...

"Sufficient Phaeton" is Finished!

Looking back over the past few weeks... 

I marvel at the inspiration that

an old vintage planer 

and a long forgotten poem

can muster up!

Details... Details... Details!

Details really do make a difference!

I just finished assembling

"Sufficient Phaeton"... realizing

there were a multitude of details

that made this doll so challenging!

From coffee-dying the canvas

and adding cinnamon and cloves...

to choosing just the right

 vintage bone buttons...

to incorporating a rusty, flattened bottle cap...
and then coffee-staining the poem and cord!

Emily's Poem

Here is Emily Dickinson's poem...

the inspiration for "Sufficient Phaeton"

"Unto Me?" I do not know you—

Where may be your House?

"I am Jesus— Late of Judea—

Now— of Paradise"—

Wagons— have you— to convey me?

This is far from Thence—

"Arms of Mine— sufficient Phaeton—

Trust Omnipotence"—

I am spotted— "I am Pardon"—

I am small— "The Least

is esteemed in Heaven the Chiefest—

Occupy my House"

-Emily Dickinson    #964

"Sufficient Phaeton" Has a Face!

Ugh! We are just coming out of a twelve hour 

power outage here in South Jersey... 

we had gale force winds 

and lots and lots of rain overnight.  

But all is well!  Even as I type, the sun is out 

and the sky is bright azure blue.  

"Sufficient Phaeton" finally has a face... 

I was able to finish adding ears 

and paperclay eyelids last night.

Yup... this little guy will eventually 

be wearing an earring too 

(a bent paperclip will have to suffice for now).  

"Sufficient Phaeton"... a New Art Doll!

The inspiration for this newest art doll

comes from one of Emily Dickinson's poems!

This raggle-taggle rider is made from 

paperclay, canvas duck cloth and wood.
He wears a small, vintage oil can on his head.

He will eventually have articulated arms and legs...

A paperclay head (to cover this styrofoam ball)

 and paperclay hands are in the works!

I will post the poem that inspired him in a day or so...  

Blessings, Daryle